Marching into Monday
March 2 — Stock futures are down sharply and oil prices are up, as U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader enter their third day. President Donald Trump said the attacks could last “four to five weeks.” Iran, now governed by a temporary three-person leadership council, has struck back across the Gulf region, killing three American service members in Kuwait and hitting a synagogue outside of Jerusalem, where nine people were killed. Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon have triggered Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. Follow live updates here.
☁️ Mostly cloudy with a high of 70° today.
🚨 Atlanta Police made 14 arrests on Saturday night during a “teen takeover” along the Beltline Eastside Trail.
😱 The women’s race at the Publix Half Marathon ended in controversy after the top three runners were led off course, costing them spots on Team USA. Wesley Kiptoo won the men’s race.
🚇 MARTA is continuing upgrades to its Breeze fare collection system, starting today at Airport Station and continuing through the week at Buckhead, Brookhaven, Lindbergh, and East Point stations.
💧 Alabama dropped its appeal of a decades-long legal battle with Georgia over water rights in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, securing Metro Atlanta’s water supply from Lake Lanier.
🪦 Two men with family members buried at historic Greenwood Cemetery in southwest Atlanta are suing the property owners over improper maintenance and licensure.
⚽ Atlanta United is 0-2 on the season after losing at San Jose on Saturday. The Five Stripes host Real Salt Lake for their home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 7 at 7:30 p.m.
🥗 The Midtown Promenade location of MetroFresh is temporarily closed after a fire in the kitchen on Friday night.
🐶 A beloved Dunwoody salon dog was found 20 miles away after disappearing a month ago.
⛪ Purim begins tonight, commemorating the Jewish people’s salvation from genocide in ancient Persia. Traditions include eating hamantaschen, a three-cornered pastry, and wine.
ELSEWHERE
🚨 A gunman opened fire from his car at a popular Austin, TX, bar early Sunday, killing three and injuring 14 before police shot and killed the suspect. The FBI is investigating a potential terrorism link.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Qualifying week begins
• Norah O’Donnell’s new book
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
🏡 This designer two-bedroom residence in Vinings features 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, a luxe primary suite, and a walk-in closet transformed into a boutique-style dressing salon. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, it includes wine locker access, two covered parking spaces, and resort-style amenities. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Qualifying Week begins today
🖊️ Georgia’s 2026 election season officially kicks off today as candidates begin filing for a packed ballot that includes some of the state’s most consequential races in years.
The five-day qualifying period runs through Friday. Here’s what’s at stake:
- Governor: A crowded field on both sides, with billionaire Rick Jackson shaking up the GOP primary against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Democrats include Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Geoff Duncan, and Michael Thurmond.
- U.S. Senate: Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff faces a Republican field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, and former football coach Derek Dooley.
- Congress: Georgia’s 14 U.S. House seats are on the ballot, with four open ones.
- Statewide offices: All eight constitutional offices – including attorney general and secretary of state – are on the ballot.
- State Legislature: All 236 General Assembly seats are up for grabs, with Democrats eyeing suburban Atlanta districts they narrowly lost in 2024.
🗳️ Visit our 2026 Election Guide for more information.
Girl Scout Cookies: More than a Sweet Treat
SPONSORED BY GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA
🍪 Sure, Girl Scout Cookies taste good, but they also make you feel good. Every penny of profit stays local, helping local girls realize their dreams. Now through April, show your support by buying a box of your favorites, including the newest flavor, Exploremores.
💚 Visit ShowMeTheCookies.com to find a cookie booth near you, order online, or support our cookies-for-service-members program, Smiles4Military.
2. Journalist Norah O’Donnell talks her new book ‘We the Women’
📚 As CBS News’ Senior Correspondent, Norah O’Donnell has made a career out of keeping the country updated on what’s going on today. But with her new book, she’s turning her eyes toward the past.
“We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America,” O’Donnell’s newly released book, charts the course of important women in American history from the signing of the Declaration of Independence onward.
O’Donnell will be in Atlanta tomorrow to talk about her book at McElreath Hall at the Atlanta History Center. Ahead of the event, she spoke with Rough Draft Atlanta about her writing process and some of her favorite stories. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
👓 Read Sammie Purcell’s interview with O’Donnell.
3. Pakistan declares ‘open war’; 9-year-old designer debuts at Paris Fashion Week
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷 Follow the latest from the war with Iran throughout the day.
✈️ Much of the Middle East shut its airspace, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers and canceling more than 1,800 flights across major hubs like Dubai and Doha.
🇵🇰 Pakistan declared “open war” on Taliban‑run Afghanistan, announcing that its Operation Ghazab lil-Haq now includes airstrikes and heavy bombardments against militant targets across major Afghan cities.
🇺🇬 Two women in Uganda are facing the death penalty for kissing in public, in defiance of the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act that took effect in 2023.
🇮🇳 Indian authorities are investigating a massive blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in central India that killed and injured dozens.
🇧🇪 Belgian special forces have seized the Russian‑linked tanker Ethera in the North Sea for allegedly operating under a false flag to evade EU sanctions.
🇳🇵 Voters in Nepal go to the polls this week to elect members of the country’s House of Representatives. It is the first election since “Gen Z” anti-corruption protests brought down the government.
🇺🇸 The U.S. marked Losar – the Tibetan New Year – by appointing a new US special coordinator for Tibetan issues to preserve “Tibetans’ precious heritage.”
🇫🇷 California-based designer Max Alexander, 9, was set to become the youngest designer in Paris Fashion Week history, debuting his sustainable “Couture to the Max” collection at the Palais Garnier on March 3.
🇹🇷 A Turkish soccer player went viral after performing CPR on a seagull struck by a ball during a match, saving it briefly before it later died. His club is considering adding a seagull to its logo.
🗓️ Atlanta’s most high‑profile International Women’s Day event is this coming Friday. As Atlanta counts down to hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for an unforgettable International Women’s Day program featuring Georgia’s own soccer legend, Kelley O’Hara. Seats are filling fast. Reserve your spot today!
🏥 Join Move For Grady on April 25! Three intown biking distances and two run/walk options means there’s something for everyone. Come to move, stay for the party – plenty of food and drinks to celebrate at GSU’s Center Parc Stadium. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Women’s History Month
We’ve rounded up a few podcasts in honor of the annual March observance of Women’s History Month.
🎙️ Apple Podcasts has collected a series of pods to celebrate Women’s History Month, ranging from comedy and the arts to health and relationships.
🎧“The History Chicks” podcast celebrates the lives of remarkable women, most recently Dovey Johnson Roundtree, Odetta, and Grandma Moses.
🎙️ The“WhatsHerName” podcast tells the stories of fascinating women you’ve never heard of (but should have), featuring expert guests who weave vivid stories to bring to life the “lost” women of history.
🎧 For a laugh (and maybe a cry), “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” features funny and interesting chats with celebrities, most recently Sarah McLachlan and Carol Burnett.
🏡 This designer two-bedroom residence in Vinings features 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, a luxe primary suite, and a walk-in closet transformed into a boutique-style dressing salon. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, it includes wine locker access, two covered parking spaces, and resort-style amenities. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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